Strike Fear
Hawk Elite Security #2
By Beth Rhodes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release
Date: February 13, 2017
Synopsis
Head of the
personal safety division for Hawk Elite Security, Tan is serious about teaching
his clients how to stay safe. But, with a file two inches thick confirming
Elizabeth Whitney as a world champion athlete, he's prepared to take on his
newest assignment as the vacation he hasn't had in over five years. A little
instruction, a couple hockey games on the side, and he'll be on his way to the
next spoiled rich kid.
Elizabeth takes one look at Tancredo Byrnes and it doesn't matter that she can perform a triple lutz-toe loop blindfolded; clumsy becomes her middle name. Though trusting people outside her family has never been her strong suit, she finds herself drawn to the easy-going man who is supposed to make her into a superwoman. But she's been burned by those fickle feelings of attraction before and isn't about to let them ruin her life again.
As their training intensifies, the threats to Elizabeth darken, and Tan realizes that what should have been a cake walk is a fight between life and death.
Elizabeth takes one look at Tancredo Byrnes and it doesn't matter that she can perform a triple lutz-toe loop blindfolded; clumsy becomes her middle name. Though trusting people outside her family has never been her strong suit, she finds herself drawn to the easy-going man who is supposed to make her into a superwoman. But she's been burned by those fickle feelings of attraction before and isn't about to let them ruin her life again.
As their training intensifies, the threats to Elizabeth darken, and Tan realizes that what should have been a cake walk is a fight between life and death.
Excerpt
He liked women,
he really did. He dated occasionally, never taking anything deeper than the
surface. There had always been too much on his plate with a job in the
military. And sending his paycheck home to Mom and his sister had kept him from
stumbling into anything long term.
And his focus
had been best utilized at work, anyway. Until now. Until he’d taken the
position at the gym and begun to manage personal security, anyway. During an
operation, he was part of a team. Sometimes, his new position left him
alone—for long stretches of time. He found he had way more time with himself
than he wanted. To think. To analyze. To regret.
He shoved aside
those thoughts as she made her way out of the locker room in her black
leggings—holy long legs—that had swirls of glittering rhinestones and sequins
all over them. The tank top matched—black but, thankfully, free of all the crap
that would scratch the hell out of him. Her shoes were tiny little white canvas
boppers, also covered in shiny shit.
At least she’d
had the sense to remove the expensive stuff. Her ears were bare as were her
neck and wrist. “Where do we start?” she asked.
“You do realize
you might get sweaty, right?”
“I’m ready when
you are.”
Tan shrugged.
They stretched
first. And he let himself be impressed by her flexibility, the obvious
attention she paid to her muscles. “Do you still skate?”
“No,” she
answered quickly, not expounding, as she lowered her head once more to her
knees and let her hands dangle over her feet.
The job had been
handed to him less than twenty-four hours ago, with little to go on except for
the father’s concern and a little background. Apparently, she wasn’t going to
talk either…yet. But he’d learned, sometimes it takes a while to get the client
talking.
Loose now, and
obviously comfortable in her own skin, Elizabeth kept her muscles warm by
moving. She shook out her arms and paced. Fluid grace.
“Let’s start
with a stalker scenario.”
She snorted a
laugh. “That’s easy. I’m going to cross the street…and probably run.”
“Maybe this guy
can run, too.” Tan twisted at the waist, stretching the muscles of his lower
back. “He gets you from behind. Come here.”
She rolled her
eyes but did as requested.
“You’re running
and he gets your arm.” Grabbing her arm, Tan pulled her against him, wrapping
his arms around her chest and giving her a lift off the ground. Wow, she was
light.
Immediately, she
threw her head back, catching the side of his jaw. He grunted, the surprise
making him drop her. She slammed her foot onto his instep, elbowed his gut,
which left him breathless, then turned and kneed him in the groin.
He moaned and
slowly lowered himself to the floor so he could lie in the fetal position. Holy
crap. Taken down by a sparkling princess. Thank God he was the only one around
today.
She leaned over,
and her hair brushed against his cheek. “How about you tell my dad I passed,
and we’ll call it even.”
Not in a million
years, he promised as she picked up her bag and walked out the door.
Also Available
Beth Rhodes is a
wife, mother, friend, and lover. She lives with her Army husband and their six
children at the base of the mountains in Colorado. She loves the cold, coffee,
camping, and sunshine.
Her stories are
full of life, family, and love. You can find her reading just about any genre
of romance, but her favorites are fast-paced suspense, where life is on the
line and love is the only saving grace. She wants a book that makes her heart
pound and her pulse race.
Beth is a member of Romance Writers of America, Pikes Peak Writers, Colorado Romance Writers, and International Thriller Writers. She is signed with Entangled Publishing and Boroughs Publishing Group.
Beth is a member of Romance Writers of America, Pikes Peak Writers, Colorado Romance Writers, and International Thriller Writers. She is signed with Entangled Publishing and Boroughs Publishing Group.
Author Links
Thank you for the shout out, Lauren and Laura!
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